Icaritin affects STAT 3 - mediated macrophage polarization via hepatocellular carcinoma cells - delivered exosome an in
vitro research
1Zheng Xia,2Xun Chen,2Qu Wenshu
1Department of Oncology The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine Nanjing 210000 Jiangsu China
2Department of Oncology Nanjing Tianyinshan Hospital Affiliated to China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 211100
Jiangsu China
Abstract：Objective To explore the pharmacological effect of acodarin an extract from the Chinese herbal medicine Epimedium
in regulating signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 STAT3 -mediated macrophage polarization via exosomes derived from
hepatocellular carcinoma HCC cells. Method HepG2 cell line was administrated by Icaritin 10 μmol / L or DMSO in vitro and then
was cocultured with THP-1 cell-derived macrophage in a Transwell coculture system. The levels of IL-6 and TGF-β secreted by the
macrophage were detected by ELISA assay. Flow cytometry was utilized to examine CD206 expression which is a biomarker of M2
macrophage. We extracted and identified the exosomes derived from DMSO or Icaritin-treated HepG2 cells. ELISA assay was utilized
to detect IL-6 and TGF-β expressed in macrophage after administrated with exosomes isolated from HCC cells with or without Icaritin
treatment. The expression and activity of STAT3 were assessed by Western blot assay. Result the expression of IL-6 TGF-β and
CD206 were increased after cocultured with HCC cells but decreased significantly after cocultured with Icaritin - induced HepG2
cells. Meanwhile Icaritin-induced exosome also inhibited the expression of IL-6 and TGF-β as well as STAT3 activity. Conclusion
Icaritin can inhibit macrophage polarize to M2 via HCC cells-derived exosomes. These findings indicate that Icaritin was an immune
regulator in HCC microenvironment.
